Part 16 (2/2)

”On May 18th, 18--, Colonel Raynor returned froypt, on six hlands Hardly had he settled dohen he suddenly declared his intention of crossing the Atlantic for a big game shoot in the Rockies This purpose he carried out within four days of his announcehter Marjorie, aged eleven, a golden-haired little beauty with the uishi+ng feature ast women

It has been clearly proved that the party arrived safely in New York, and proceeded on their way to the Rockies Since that ti has been heard of any of the three

”There is no definite pronouncement as to the ade property, valued roughly at nearly a quarter of a ht that he leaves a will behind him, but whether this will be executed or not remains to be seen There are no near relations, except the colonel's brother, Stephen, as disinherited by their father in favor of the colonel, and who, it is believed, left this country at the time, and went to the United States His whereabouts are also unknown, in spite of advertise the last six years

”We publish these details, even at this late hour, in the faint hope that soht may yet be thrown on the allant colonel and his fa the whereabouts of his brother Theories have been put forward But the suggestion which seems most feasible comes from the New York police They think he must have met with so climber, and that, unaccohter, left helpless, were unable to get back to civilization

There is a chance that misfortune of some other character overtook him, but of what nature it is impossible to estimate It has been asserted by one of the officials at the railway station at Ohted fro the description of Colonel Raynor's party These people are supposed to have stayed the night at a hotel, and then left by a train going north Inquiry, however, has thrown no further light in this direction, and so the police have fallen back on their original theory”

Seth laid the cutting aside, and thoughtfully chewed the end of his pen

There were h, the letter he had to compose did not present the chief iteht chiefly of that railway official, and the story which the police had so easily set aside He thought of that, and he thought of the Indians, who now more than ever seemed to form part of his life

Finally he took a fresh piece of paper and headed it differently He had changed his inally intended to write to the New York police

Now he addressed hiland And his letter was just the sort of letter one ht have expected from such a man, direct, plain, but eminently exact

As he finally sealed it in its envelope there was no satisfaction in the expression of his face He drew out his pipe and filled it and lit it, and s hard on theafter Rube had looked in and bade hiht kiss, and Rosebud had called out her nightly farewell

It was not until the laan to sht had kept him up to this hour, he slept soundly, for he was a healthy-minded man

CHAPTER XII

CROSS PURPOSES

Seth was out haying It was noon, and his dinner hour He and his old collie dog, General, were taking their leisure on the slope of Red Willow slough, while the horses, relieved of their bits and traces, were nibbling at the succulent roots of the grass over which the mower had already passed

General possessed a sense of duty His , with his prairie hat drawn over his face The dog crouched at his feet, struggling hard to keep his eyes open, and remain alert while the other rested frorass overpowering, and it was difficult

At last theto his feet His ears were pricked, and he raced off across the slough As he went, the sound of wheels became distinctly audible Rosebud, seated in a buckboard, and driving the old farh She was bringing Seth his dinner

Aout of the vehicle The heat in no eighed upon her spirits She looked as fresh and cool in her white linen dress and sun-hat as if it were an early spring day Her laughing face was in marked contrast to theeyes see of the brilliancy of the sunlight that was so intensely pouring down upon the but a penitent tone, ”but just as I was starting Wana came up with a note for you, and I'm afraid we stopped and talked, and you knohat a dozy old mare Hesper is, and she just went slower than ever, and I hadn't the heart to whack her, she's such a dear, ta, and so I'm ever so late, and I'ry”

But Seth displayed no anger; he only held out his hand

”An' the note?”

Rosebud thought for aabout her on the ground Seth watched her a little anxiously

”Who was it froent I don't suppose it was important, but I know I put it somewhere”

”Guess so”

Seth lifted the dinner-box out of the buckboard Suddenly Rosebud's face cleared